Igniter for internal-combustion engines.



W. C. VOGENBERGERL IGNITER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLXCATION FILED JAN 19. 1916.

WITNESSES Ev 7.7m W d 11w INVENTOR WILLIAM C. VOGENBERGER; 01 WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IGNITER FOB, INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pa tgmtedl Nov. 2 d, llilill'du Application filed January 19, 1916. Serial No. 72,905.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. Voenn- BERGER, residing at Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of the United States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Igniters for Internal- Combustion Engines,- of which improvements the following is a specification.

My invention relates to spark plugs or igniters for internal'combustion engines, and has particularly to do with igniters wherein at least one of the electrodes is, by the pneumatic pressure within a cylinder, movable to break an electric circuit.

The object of my invention is to improve the general construction and operation of such igniters. A more specific object is to provide an igniter wherein one of the electrodes is mounted for a turning movement and is held yieldingly. toward the other by means of a spring unexposed to the internal heat of the cylinder. A further specific object is to provide'an improved form of circuit make-and-break devices for igniters of: the character contemplated by my invention.

In the-accompanying sheet of drawings,

' forming part of my specification, I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my inventon. Figure 1 is a plan view of my igniter;.Figs. 2 and 3 vertical sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines lI-II and III-III, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a side view of the make-and-break device shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 a sectional view similar to the lower portion, of-Fig. 2, but illustrating a modification of construction; and Fig. 6 a

view taken on the broken line VIVI,

Fig. 5.

It is well understood that igniters of the character contemplated by my invention are placed in the cylinder wallof an internal combustion engine. Usually, and as shown herein, they are carried in a screw plug 1, which forms portion thereo being indicated at 2. In the embodiment of my invention particularly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the electrodes are arranged to be normally in contact with each other, the pneumatic pressure created Within the cylinder being effective to move one of the electrodes to break their contact with each other, and a makeand-break deart of the cylinder wall, a

vice is provided to close a circuit through the electrodes before contact is broken between them, and to break the circuit before contact is again restored.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, an electrode 3, provided at its lower end with a contact ring 4, is mounted for longitudinal movement within a sleeve 5, which in turn is mounted centrally in the plug 1, a suitable insulation bushing 6 being interposed between the sleeve and plug. This electrode is provided with a piston 7, which, through an annularport 8, is open to the pneumatic pressure within the cylin 'der, and against the opposite side of which a spring 9 acts to resist the movement of the electrode and to hold it normally in its indicated position.

Cooperating with the electrode 3 is a second electrode 10 rotatablymounted in the plug 1 ,and provided \vlth an arm 11 adapted "to contact with the ring of electrode 3. A spring 12 acts upon the outer end of the electrode 10 to hold the arm 11 toward the electrode 3, and an adjustable stop, in the form, of a set screw 32 carried by an arm 13 secured to the electrode 10, cooperates with :1 lug 14, formed on top of the plug 1, to limit the movement of the arm 11 toward the electrode 3. The arrangement in this regard is such that, when the ring 4 has been moved beyond range ot engagement by the arm 11, the stop 32 will be effective to prevent the arm 11 from contacting with the shank portion or end nut of the electrode 3. While but one electrode 10 is essential to the opcrativeness of the igniter, two are shown in the drawings as haw ing their arms arranged to act on opposite sides of the electrode 3. These electrodes are of the same construction and serve the double purpose of balancing the pressure upon the electrode 3 and of allording a double assurance of a spark when contact is broken between them and the electrode 3. It will be observed of the electrodes that their movements are resisted by springs unexposed to the heat of the interior of the cylinder, and furthermore that their movements may not be afiected by the pneumatic pressure within the cylinder.

As already explained, a make;en,d-break device is provided to close an electric cir? tit) cuit through the electrodes before the up 7 sisted by a spring 22 I such ward movement of the electrode 3, and to thereafter open the circuit before such electrode again contacts with the arms 11. The preferred formof such device is shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 1. In an arm 15-, secured to the plug 1, there is rotatably mounted a spindle 16 having a knife-blade contactstrip 17 secured to one end thereof, and, by means of an arm 24, eccentrically connected at its other end to a rod 18. Insulated from the arm 15, and secured to the top thereof, is a binding post 19 which is provided with spring clips :20 adapted to receive the strip 17. so that a current may flow through the binding post 19, clips 20, strip 17, spindle 16, arm 15 and plug 1 to the electrodes 10. The rod 18 is adapted to be moved by pneumatic-pressure and for this purpose is provided with a piston 21 suitable bore formed in the plug 1. The upward movement of the rod 18 is, untilthe strip 17 makes contact with the clips 20, re-

which is of less strength than the aforementioned electrode spring 9, the arrangement being such that the piston 21 will, by the pneumatic pressure within the cylinder, be moved to close the circuit before the electrode 3 is moved by pressure. A second spring 23, of greater strength than the electrode spring 9, is provided to resist further movement of the piston 21. This spring, which is prefcrably coiled around the spindle 16, has one end bearing upon the topof the arm 24, and its other end extending into a slot 25 of the arm 15. The length of this slot and the position therein of the end of the spring 23 is such that the spring will offer no resistance to the closing of the circuit, but that, when the explosion within the cylinder occurs, the consequent increased pressure will place the spring under tension, such tension becoming effective upon the diminution of the explosive pressure to turn the spindle 16 in the opposite direction and thus open the switch before the electrode 3 again contacts withthe arms 11. It will be understood of this igniter that the electrical conductors for current supply may be attached one to the binding post 19 and the other to the sleeve 5, as indicated in the drawings.

In the operation of the igniter just described, he scveral parts normally occupy the posiuons indicated in Figs. 1 and 4, inclusive, the arms 11 of the electrode 10 being in contact with the ring is of the electrode 3, and the strip or switch member 17 being unengagcd by the spring clips 20. \Vhen, upon the. compression stroke of the piston, a predeterminod pneumatic pressure is attained inthe cylinder, the piston 21 will, against the resistance of the spring 22, be moved upwardly to bring the strip 17 into engagement with the spring clips 20, therebyclosing a circuit through the electrodes 3 movable through a adjusting nuts 33 which may be held in and 10. The further increased pressure Within the cylinder acting upon the piston 7 then becomes effective to move the electrode 3 to break the circuit between the electrodes and cause the desired spark. The still further increased pressure, due to the explos on of the combustible mixture, causes a further movement of the piston 21 against the resistance of the second switch spring 23, and the reaction of such spring causes, before the electrode 3 moves downwardly, a reverse rotation of the spindle 16 and a consequent opening of the circuit between the strip 17 and spring clips 20.

The modification illustrated for the most part in Figs. 5 and 6, differs from the construction just explained in that the arrangement'is such that the electrodes 3 and 10 are not normally in contact with each other, and further in that means are provided to hold outwardly the arms 11 of electrodes 10 until after the return movement of the electrodes 3. As will be seen, the contact ring 1* is below the arms 11, the adjustable stops 32, shown in Fig. 1. serving to pre vent the arms from contacting with the shank portion of the electrode 3% In this construction the electrical conductor: for current suppy may be attached one to the sleeve 5 and the other to the cylinder wall I or plug 1. To hold the arms 11 outwardly while the electrode 3 is moving downwardly to its indicated position, and to thereby prevent aspark during such return movement. the electrodes 10 are preferably mounted in the plug l for a slight longitudinal movement as well as the movement of rotation already explained, and these electrodes and the plug are provided with cooperating detents, the electrodes with tongues 26 and the plug with recesses '27 adapted to receive such tongues. The relative positions of these detents is such that, when the arms 11 are thrown outwardly by the movement of the electrodel (the ring i striking the ends of such arms). the tongues 26 will enter the recesses 27. it being understood that the pneumatic pressure within the cylinder will act upon the ends of the electrodes 10 to cause them to move outwardly. That these electrodes 10 may, after thcclectrode 3 has returned to its normal position, be moved inwardly to re lease the tongues from engagement by the recesses, the springs 12 exert a downward pull on the electrodes 10 as well as the torsional action already explained. Such downward pull is readily etlected, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, by attaching one end of the springs 12 to the plug and the other ends to any desired position by lock nuts 34.

In lieu of the detents for holding the arms cause an even W831 llpOIl press such offset portion againstthe plug.

By adjusting the torsional strain of the springs 12 with relation to the pressure of spring 9 and the frictional resistance thus effected the arms 11 may be held outwardly until after the electrode 3- has resumed its lowermost position.

The operation of this modified form of igniter, as far as it difi'ers from that of the first described igniter, will be readily apparent from the foregoing explanation. It re mains only to be said of each form that the electrodes 3 and 3 are so mounted that they may turn on their center axes, and thus the rings 4 and 4 According to the provision of the'patent statutes, I have described the principle and operation of my invention together with the instrumentalities which I now consider to represent the best embodiments thereof.

However, I desire to have it understood that the constructions shown are only illustrative, and that the invention may be practised by other means.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an igniter for internal combustion engines, the combination with a cylinder wall, ofan electrode mounted for reciprocatory movement therein and held yieldingly in one position, means operable by pneumatic pressure for moving said electrode, a

second and rigid electrode mounted for turning movement in said wall andprovided with a contactor normally lying in the path electrode, and yielding means for resisting the turning movement of said second-named electrode.

2. In an igniter for internal combustion engines, the combination with a cylinder wall, of an electrode mounted for reciprocatory movement therein and held yieldingly in one position, means operable by pneumatic pressure for moving said electrode, a second electrode rotatably mounted in said wall and provided with a contact arm normally lying in the path of movement of said first-named electrode, and a spring outside of the cylinder wall for holding said second electrode in and toward said normal position.

3. In an igniter for internal combustion engines, the combination with a cylinder wall, of an electrode mounted for reciprocatory movement therein and held yieldingly in one position, means operable by pneumatic pressure for moving said electrode a second electrode rotatably mounted in said wall and provided with a laterally extend irig contact arm, a spring acting upon said second electrode .and adapted to hold the arm thereof toward said first named elecof movement of said first named trode, and an adjustable stop for limiting the turning movement of said second electrode.

4. In an igniter for internal combustion engines, the combination with a cylinder wall, of an electrode mounted forreciprocatory movement therein and held yieldingly in one position, means operable by pneumatic pressure for moving said electrode, a second electrode mounted for rotary' and longitudinal movements in said wall and provided with a contact arm adapted to beengaged and thrown outwardly by the movement of said first-named electrode, said second electrode being held yieldingly toward the interior of the cylinder and provided with a detent cooperating with the cylinder wall to temporarily hold said arm in its outward position.

5. In an igniter for internal combustion engines, the combination with a cylinderwall, of an electrode mounted for reciprocatory" movement therein and held yieldingly in one position, means operable by pneumatic pressure for moving said electrode, a second electrode mounted for rotary and longitudinal movements in said Wall and provided with a contact arm adapted to be engaged and thrown outwardly by the movement of said first-named electrode, a spring acting upon said second electrode and adapted to hold'it yieldingly toward the interior of the cylinder and the arm thereof toward the first named electrode, said cylinder and second electrode being provided with cooperating detents for temporarily holding said arm in its outward position.

6. In an igniter for internal combustion engines, the combination with a cylinder wall, of a pair of relatively movable electrodes normally in contact with each other,

cuit through said means for opening said circuit before the electrodes-again contact with each other.

7. In an igniter for'internal combustion engines, the combination with a cylinder wall, of a pair of electrodes normally in contact with each other, means operable by pneumatic pressure for moving one of said electrodes to break its contact with the other, pressure-operated means for closing a circuit through said electrodes prior to the breaking of contact between them, and spring-operated means for opening said circuit before the electrodes again contact with each other. 8. In an igniter for internal combustion engines, the combination with a' cylinder wall, of a pair of electrodes normally in contact with each other, one of said electrodes being movable by pneumatic pressure and against the resistance of a spring, a circuit make-and-break device movable by pneumatic pressure to close a circuit through vice and to effeetacirciiit-openingmoyement said electrodes, :1 spring for resisting the thereof before said electrodes come in concircuit-closing of said device and of less retact with each other.

sistance than said electrode spring, and a WILLIAM G. VOGENBER GER. second spring of greater resistance than said Witnesses: electrode spring and adapted to resist ALICE A. TRILL,

- further circuit-closing movement of said de I PAUL N. CRITCHLOW. 

